Cleansing apparatus



Sept 29, 1942- R. H. SANFORD l 2,297,171

CLEANSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20, 1940 I 2 Sheets--Sheet l [I f7 QJ ./9

. MAM

Sept 29, `1942. R, H, SANFORD CLEANS ING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 20, 194U 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'stantially onk the line'a-S on Fig. 2;

Patented Sept. 2 9, 1942 CLEAN SING APPARATUS Rexk H. Sanford, Duluth, Minn.

Application November zo, 1940, serial No. 366,339

11 Claims.

This invention relates to cleansing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus adapted for cleansing dishes, table flat ware, cooking utensils and the like, which are hereinafter generically referred to as dishes, andamong the important objects of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the aforesaid character of simple and economical construction and 'emcient and positive operation.'` i

Yet another objectA of the present invention is to arrange dishes .to be cleansed in acontainer (CLIM-'9) Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 5-5 on Fig. 6 and showing another form of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional detail fview talen substantially on the line 6-6 on Fig. 5; an v Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of one of the l impellers employed in the form of the invention associated with a cleansing solution and to forcy ibly discharge the cleansing solution onto and' lover dishes in a novel mannerl so as tothereby effect efficient and thoroughcleansing lof the vdishes. n. *y Other objectsare to forcibly impel a cleansing solution onto', and over dishes from,` a plurality of directions and thereby insure eiiicient'cleansing of all portions of Ythe dishes; to so arrange the solution impelling means that synchronic operation thereof may be effected and therebyinsure an efficient cleansingaction; to enable dishes to be eectually washed with a minimum of cleansing solution; toemploy novel solution -impelling means; and to soarrange the impelling-means and the power supply therefor that the same may illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and showing the drive for thisv impeller aswellv as' the -drive for other similar impellers included inthe apparatus.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 includes la housing 8 preferablyin the form of a substantially rectangular open top tank. A cover or lid 9 is provided for the housing and includes an inwardly offset flangev I0 -at the lower edgev thereof defining a shoulder- Il adapted torest on the upper free Aedge of the'liousing or tank 8 when the flange I0 is passed into the upper part of. the tank whereby a tightcl'oser is provided forl the open -top o'f the tank. A false or extra bottom I2 provided in thetankiis supported in spaced relation withthe bottom and Y side wallsv of the tank by 'inclined plates as I3 be disposed within the container for the cleansing solution and the dishes to be cleansed.y

`Other and further objects ofthe present in-I-f ventionv will be apparent from the following de- 4 scription vand claims' and are illustrated in: the 'accompanying drawings which, by.way of. lillustration, show preferred "embodiments andthe principle thereof and whatI. nowv consider to bek the best, mode in l'which I. have contemplated applying this principle.` Other embodiments of art without departing Vfrom the present invention `and the purview of the v,appended claims. y

In the drawings, i Fig. 1 is a perspective' view of the container or rack in which'dishes to be cleansed in my the invention embodying the same oran `equiva` j lent principle may be used and structural .changes .may be made'as v`desired' by vthose skilled: in the d novel vapparatusmay be arranged and showing the manner in which the cleansingsolution irnpelling means is .associated with such rack; y 4

Fig. 2 is a 1ongitud1na1sectiona1 Viewv through an apparatus embodying` my invention; Fig; 3 is a transverse sectional view taken sub- Fig. f1 is a perspective 'detail viewof the impeller arrangementfemployedin the form ofthe invention :showri'in Figs. 1 to 3,; A

which extend between the corners atA the bottom of the walls of the tank and the bottom thereof. whereby ,a trough T, ldescribed in further detail Y hereinafter, is provided.

An open meshwire basket Il is removably rested onthe upper surface -of the false bottom 'v I2 and has suitably formed supportsl as 1 I 6l on the bottom thereof on which dishes tobe cleansed may be rested to 'be supported in positionto 1;

be cleansed. -In the vcase of flat pieces,esuch as plates and saucers.y these are arranged in association with the supports I5 in vertical position, as -shownj in Fig. 1, whereas bowls, cups and the like are preferably arranged in :inverted position as shownin Fig. 1. I have found it .convenient to 'include inthe basket I4"a wire mesh tray or f like container I6 .in which table at ware, such as knives, forks and spoons and thejlike may bye-.disposed forV cleansing, and preferably the meshiof thistray or basket i6 hasl smaller openi ings than vthose of the-main basket I4 so'as to insure vretention of such articlesin the-tray I6.

In use, the `tray or basket I l is rested on the .n

false Abottom I2 to have a cleansing solution containedin the tank 8, abovesthe inclined walls'as I3 thrown onto dishes in the basket Il, suitable impelling means being provided forthis purpose.

Thus, stud shafts,l as I1 areiournaled in bearings 'as I8- mounted on the inclined walls I3 at each of the four corners of the false bottom I2 soas tontherelby be .disposed sit the four cornersof the basket I4 when it is arrangedon the bottom I2. Grooved pulleys as I9 are, in the present instance, fast on the stud shafts I1 and' an endless V-belt 20 is mounted in the grooves in the pulleys I9 to thereby pass around the basket ,I4 when it is arranged on the bottom I2, but it is to be understood that sprockets and chains or equivalent means could be used in place of the pulleys I9 and belt 20. One of the aforesaid shafts is the shaft I1a of an electric motor 2I carriedby a bracket 22 fast to an adjacent wall of the tank 8. When the motor 2I is set in operation, the shaft I1a drives the pulley I9 fast thereon and in this way the belt 2II is caused to travel about the pulleys I9 and therefore the basket I4.

At spaced intervals along the outwardly disposed edge of the belt.20 recesses as 22 are formed preferably by providing a slot in the outer marginal portion of the belt 20 and by cutting away a portion of the margin of the belt as at 23 inwardly from each end of the aforesaid slot or recess. Impellers a." 24 are mounted in the recesses 23 and consist of relatively flat body portions which are disposed in the recesses22 and which are fast to the belt l2II as by rivets 25 or the like. The impellers 24 have inclined defiector vanes as 28 at opposite ends thereof for the purpose of impelling the cleansing solution onto dishes in the basket I4. The trough T and the pulleys I9 are so disposed relative to each other and theimpellers 24 are so constituted and arranged and are so located on the belt 23 that the lower portions of the impellers are immersed in the cleansing solution introduced into the trough T so as to substantially till the same, the configuration of the trough being such that it may be filled with but a relatively small quantity of cleansing solution whereby only a minimum quantity of such a solution is required in the apparatus. y

Henceafter the basket I4 has been arranged on the bottom I2 and sufficient cleansing solution has been introduced in the trough T to cause approximately one-half of the impellers 24 to be immersed in such solution'and the lid 9 has been arranged in tank-closing position, the motor 2I is set in operation. Then by reason of the fact that the impellers 24 are' arranged at the outer edge of the belt 20 and since these impellers extend into the cleansing solution in the tank, the impellers are effective in the course of movementl of the belt 20 to throw the cleansing solution, which may be suitably saponified water or the like, up onto dishes in the basket I4 and tray I6. vSince the belt 20 passes about all four sides of the basket I4 and since the impellers are arranged atA such spaced intervals in the belt that at least one impeller will at all times be disposed on each side of the basket I4, the cleansing solution is thrown onto the dishes from a multi.-

` plicity of angles and, in fact, from substantially all directions, vand. in this way the cleansing solution is caused-to be forcibly impelled on all portions of the dishes arranged in the basket I4 and in this way effective cleansing of all portions of the dishes is effected. By reason of the configuration of the trough T and the interrelation between this trough and the impellers 24, it is only necessary that a comparatively small amount of a cleansing solution be introduced into the trough T and this is augmented by the fact that the solution quickly drains back into the trough after being impelled onto the dishes in the basket I4. It will also be understood that the deflector vanes 28 on the impellers 24 are constituted and arranged in such a way as to insure effective and forcefuldischarge of the cleansing solution directly from'the trough onto the dishesk The function of the lower vanes 26 of the impellers 24 is to scoop up the cleansing solution and throw it upwardly tosplash against the dishes, while the upper vanes 25 aid to impart further momentum to the solution and to direct it over and onto the dishes.

A Another form of my invention is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and here again a tank, that is preferably substantially rectangular in outline, is provided and this tank 21 has the open top thereof closed by a lid 28 similar to the lid 9. In this instance brackets 29 are mounted at suitably spaced positions on the inner sides of the vertical walls of the tank 21 and have hook-shaped portions at the free ends thereof in which the upper marginal rim of a basket 30, similar to the basketv I4, may be suspended to thereby support the basket I4 in the tank 21. It will be understood that, if desired, brackets corresponding to the brackets 29 might be provided in the tank 8 to support the basket I4 therein. Resort, however, is had to the brackets 23 in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 for in this form of the invention a rounded false bottom 3| is rested on the bottom of the tank 21 to have the high point thereof arranged substantially medlally of the tank 21 and with the marginal edges thereof terminated inwardly of the vertical walls of the tank 21 to thereby define a trough Ta similar to the trough T. s

Adjacent each of the corners of the tank 21 and at suitable intervals intermediate suchcor- -ners bearings as 32 are provided on the bottom of the tank 21 inthe trough Ta and brackets 33, providing bearings 34, are fast to the upright walls of the tank in such a way as to have the bearings 34 aligned with the bearings 32. Stud shafts as 35 ar'e journaled in each of the sets of aligned bearings 32 and 34 and have at the upper ends thereof grooved pulleys as 36 in which an endless belt 31 is arranged. One of f the shafts 35 is afforded bythe shaft 35a of a motor 36' carried by 'a bracket 33' secured to the adjacent wall of the tank 21, this shaft 35a being journaled in a bearing 34 of one of the brackets 33 supported by the wall of the tank.

A hubv as 38 is fast on each shaft 35 and on the shaft 35a immediately above the bearing 32 and has a suitably formed impeller blade 39 thereon; Each hub 38 and its impeller blade 39 is disposed vertically on the shaft 35 (or 35a) to be in communication with a cleansing solution stored in the trough Ta, each impeller blade 39 being constituted and arranged, when the shaft on which it is mounted is set in operation, to throw the cleansing solution from the trough Ta over and onto dishes in the basket 30, the solution so thrown over and onto the dishes effecting cleansing thereof and draining back into the trough Ta to permit re-use thereof.

As in the case of the tank 8, a cleansing solution is provided in the tank 21 so as to partly immerse the .impeller blades as 39. As best shown in Fig. 5, in addition to the impeller blades at the corner of the tank 21, preferably two impeller blades are provided along the longer side of the tank 21 intermediate the corners, and preferably in uniformly spaced relation, and another impeller blade is provided along the shorter walls of the tank, preferably in uniformly spaced relation with the impeller blades at the corners. Hence when the motor 36 is set in about the pulleys 36, the shafts- 35a and 38 are' rotated and thereupon theimpeller blades 38 throw the vcleansing solution onto dishes in the rack 30. By reason lof theaforesaid distribution of the impeller blades 39on all sides of the rack 30, the cleansing solution is thrown vonto the dishes in the rack from all sides whereby'an effective cleansing action results.

While resort may be had to a number of ways l0 of draining the cleansing-solution from the tanksv 8 and 21, a suitable drain cock as 40, Fig. 2, may

be provided which, when opened, will permit vtheA cleansing solution to drain from the tankand if resort is had to such an arrangement the troughls as T or Ta in 4each tank willbe arranged to be inclined toward the drain cock so as to insure drainage of the cleansing solution `from the.

trough when the cock is opened.

It will be manifest from the foregoing descrip tion that I have provided a simple and relatively inexpensive cleansing apparatus particularly adapted for the cleansing of Vdishesas this term' is used generically therein.` Such an efficient cleansing actionarisesby reason ofthe fact that a cleansing solu'tion maybe impelled or thrown onto dishes arranged in the apparatus. from a wide variety'of positions andjin eilect, Afrom'all directions so that cleansing solution is impelled onto all portions ofthe dishes arrangedgin the apparatus. Moreover, the arrangement is such that efdcient cleansing may be effected with a minimum quantity of cleansing solution. Thus whileI have illustrated and described selected embodiments of my invention. it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish f to berlimi'd to the precise details set fortnbut desire 'to avail'myself of suchchangesand al-A Y terations as fall within the 4purview4 of the follow- 40 fing claims. Y r n g .1. In an apparatus ofthe classfdescribed.. af container in which dishes and thelike to be g' cleansed may be arrangedfand into and 'from"45" mounted'jat intervals about said container and inrwhich'saidbelt is arranged to be guidedabout which a cleansing solution mayl freely pass, 'a

.cleansing solution receiver disposed about'said container and intovwhich'a cleansingsolution may be introduced, a p'lurality'of 'impeller mem. 'y

bersdisposed about said container and including parts adapted to extend into a solution introduced into said receiver, said impeller members vbeing lso disposed and being so operative as to forcibly eject solution from said receiver over and onto ldishes or the like in said container from a plu- 55 rality of positions, and meansinterconnecting said impeller/members to efIect conjoint operation of said impellerA members and including a.

a generally horizontal plane within said receiver]A and above the solution therein. l

2. In anapparatus of' the class described,

means into which a cleansing solution may be ing impeller means arranged at spacedintervals thereon operative to pick up solution from the 'flexible' member interconnecting4 said impeller members, said flexible member being disposed in 6o introduced about an area in which d'isheszor the (g5 like to be cleansed may be arranged, an endless `flexible member passed about saidarea and hav- `firstnamed l`means and discharge it onto dishes or the 'like in said a'rea, and means for driving] said endless member; about said area to thereby cause said impeller means to discharge'the salulionv onto the dishes or the-like-from a pluralityA ofpositions.

3. In an apparatus of the class ldescribed,

means into which a cleansing solution may be introduced about an area in whichdishes or the "liketo be-cleansed may be arranged, a plurality of impeller members arranged in spaced relation with each other about said area and includ- `ing parts 'adapted to extend into a cleansing solutionintroduced into said first-named means to substantially ll the same and operative to pick up solution from the first-named means and driving said exible member to operate said impeller-members and thereby cause the same to discharge ,the solution onto the dishes or the ha from a plurality of positions.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a f container 'inwhich dishes and the like to bev cleansed may be arranged and into and from whichl a cleansing solution mayl freely pass,

vn ieans providing'a trough-like portion about saidl container and into which a .cleansing solution may-bel introduced, an endless flexible member,

means supporting said endless member Vand ar.- ranged to direct the same about said container,

impeller members on said endless member at spaced intervals and operative to discharge solutionv from said trough-like portion onto and over dishes and the like in said container, and means for causing 'said endless member to travel about saidrcontainer.

5. In'an Tapparatus of the class described, a container in 'which dishes and the like to be cleansed may be arranged and into and from which' a cleansing solution may freely pass, means providing a trough-like portion about said container' and into .whichfa cleansing solution maybe introduced, an endless belt, pulleys said container, a plurality of impeller members mounted on said belt atv spaced intervals land including de'ector' vanes operative to discharge' .solution from said trough-like; portion onto and Vover dishes, and the ilk e` in said container, and means for causing said belt to travel about said container.

6. IIn an lapparatus of the class described, a

trough-like portion onto and over dishes and the like in, said container, and means interconnecting said impeller members" and disposed within said trough-like lportion and above the solutioncontaining area thereof and including a flexible lmember disposed'inv a substantially horizontal j'plane,l and interconnecting said impeller members, and means for -drlving said flexible member to thereby operate said impeller members.

'7. `In an apparatus of the class described, tank'- like .means providing an enclosure and arranged to provide a trough-like portion about the medial 4trough-like, portion, said impeller members be` ing so disposed and being so operative asto forcibly eject solution from said trough-likeportion over and onto dishes or the like in said container from a plurality of positions, and means operatively associated with said impeller members for coniointly operating said impeller members and including a flexible member interconnect-v ing said impeller members,y said ilexible member being disposed in a generally horizontal plane within said enclosure and above and relatively close to the solution contained in said troughlike portion. Y

8. In an apparatus of the class described. tank-like means providing an enclosure and arranged to provide a trough-likeportion about the medial part of the enclosure and intofwhich trough-like portion a cleansing solution may be introduced, a container disposed at the medial part of said enclosure in which dishes and the like to be cleansed my be arranged and into and from which a cleansing solution may freely pass, an endless flexible member passed about said container and having impeller means arranged at spaced intervals thereon operative to pick up solution introduced into said trough-like portion to substantially illl the same and to discharge the solution over and onto dishes and the like in said container from a plurality of positions, and means for causing said endless member to pass about said container.

9. In an apparatus of the class described.

tank-like means providing an enclosure and arranged to provide a trough-like portion about the medial part of the enclosure and into which trough-like portion a cleansing solution may be introduced, a container disposed at the4 medial part of said enclosure in which dishes and the like yto be cleansed may be arranged and into and from which a cleansing solution may freely pass, an endless belt, pulleys mounted at intervals about said container and in which said belt is arranged to be guided about said container, a plurality of impeller members mounted on said bei: at paced intervals and including censeur vanes operative to discharge solution from said trough-like portion onto and over dishes and the likeinsaidcontainenandmeansioreausingsaid belt to travel about said container.

l0. In an apparatus oi' the character described. a tank-like receptacle. a container disposed within said receptacle for supporting dishes and the like to be cleansed and into and from which a cleansing solution may freely pass, means anord- .ing a trough in the bottom oi saidreceptacle around said container and adapted to receive a cleansing-solution, a plurality oi rotatable impeller members disposed in spaced relation about said container, bearing means secured to said receptacle and supporting said impeller members i'or rotation about vertical axes, each of said impeller members having a vane disposed within said trough and operating when rotated to discharge solution from said trough onto the dishes and the like in said container, an endless belt extending around said container and frictionally connected to said impeller members for rotatively driving the same, and means for causing said beit to travel around said container.

l1. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank-like receptacle, a container disposed with- 'in said receptacle for supporting dishes and the like to be cleansed and into and from which a cleansing solution may freely pass, means affonding 'a trough in the bottom of said receptacle about said container and adapted to receive a cleansing solution, a plurality of pulley members rotatably mounted on vertical axes located at spaced points about said trough, an endless flexible member disposed in a generally horizontal plane and operatively engaged with all of said pulleys 'and supported and guided thereby, a plurality of horizontally spaced impellers located at least in part in the solution in said trough and constructed and arranged to provide impeller surfaces which in horizontal movement of said impellers are operative 'to discharge solution from said trough onto and over dishes and the like in said container, and means connecting each 

